Holy Island Trilogy 02 - Nowhere Man (4 page)

‘I’ll walk him, promise, Mum,’ Jayne said.

‘Of course he can stay. We do have a much bigger garden than yours, and it's not exactly what you would call landscaped. It’s the least I can do after----’ Her eyes filled up, and she touched the top of Cassie’s head. ‘After what you did for us. You can leave him here until Aunt May gets out… She is?’ The girls fell silent and looked quickly up at Mike.

Hesitating a moment, he said. ‘Nothing's certain yet, still some more tests.’

'Oh, God,’ Jill said, ‘I’m so sorry. Of course we’ll take good care of the dog. If there’s anything else, anything at all, just let me know…Does she have her night clothes? In fact, I’ll pop down later and pack for her - that’s if you don’t mind?’

‘No, er, that’s fine, thank you. Could you remind Smiler to take them in to the hospital tomorrow? Although,’ he sighed, ‘I’m not quite sure he’ll be back tomorrow. Depends how things work out at the hospital. But she’ll want her own stuff, I know that for a fact.’

Jill smiled. ‘Of course she will, and will no doubt raise hell if she can’t get them. We’ll play it by ear. I don’t mind taking her clothes in to the hospital.’

‘Thanks, Jill, I really appreciate it.’ Mike reached into his pocket and took out a note. ’Take this for the time being. He’s a big eater, and a great lover of biscuits. Just let me know how much I owe you. OK, Smiler will be popping back and forth I’m sure… I...er…I have to go somewhere.’

She was silent for a moment, as if wondering where he suddenly had to go when Aunt May needed him, but said, ‘Any special dog food he needs?’

‘No, he’ll eat anything.’ He handed the twenty to Jill and started backing away from them. Turning at the gate, he gave them all a quick wave, then hurried along to Aunt May's cottage.

Quickly, he showered. Back downstairs, towel tied around his waist, he padded barefooted to the kitchen and made himself a ham and tomato sandwich, smothering it with mayonnaise. Sitting down at one of the small round breakfast tables that Aunt May used for her guests, he figured out his next step.

He would go in to Berwick. Strictly speaking, it wasn’t his station any more, and he would be back working at Newcastle. The case was all but closed now, apart from some mopping up that he quite honestly couldn’t ever see happening, not if what he knew was the solid truth. So he would also have to go to Newcastle, to report in and take leave that was owed to him. But he very much needed to talk to Kristina Clancy - hence the trip up to Berwick.

He finished the sandwich and quickly dressed in jeans and cream t-shirt. Rummaging in his overnight bag, he found a packet of cigarettes, which had been in there for months. Standing at the back door he lit one up as he looked over the fields towards the sea, knowing that it was a sight he might never see again.

Half an hour later he was on the road. The traffic was light, the sun was high, the sky was blue, but the only thing on his mind was Aunt May’s grey face and the thoughts of what he would do to those scumbags when he found them.

And I will.

There were things missing out of the puzzle, but he had names. Another long talk with Shelly should clear a few things up, if the kid wasn’t so friggin' muddled. Half the pieces of a puzzle were no good to any body, and sometimes got the wrong person killed. And in this instance, the killing wouldn’t stop at just one.

Most of what she’d told him was pretty much unbelievable, until he had stopped and thought seriously about it. And that’s all he had done for hours.

He didn’t see the car come flying up behind him. He heard the sudden roar of the engine, though, and looked in his rear view mirror just in time to see the gun pointed at him. He ducked as the first bullet hit the back window, ploughed on through the car and shattered the windscreen just above where his head had been. As bullet after bullet rained down on the car, Mike grabbed the wheel tightly and started swinging the car from side to side, praying as hard as he could, at the same time pouring scorn on himself for doing so after the many times he’d scoffed at Brother David.

He was wondering, in a remote, terrified sort of way, just how close he was to the cliff edge. Although he couldn’t see it without turning his head, the car was now riding abreast of him. On his third sharp swing to the left he smashed into its side, knocking the lighter car across the road, but sending his own car into a spin that brought him even closer to the edge. The other car must have righted itself, because suddenly another round of bullets hit Mike’s car. This time, at least one of them found their mark.

CHAPTER FIVE

‘Apple?’ Brother David pulled a shiny red apple out of his pocket and handed it across the bed. Smiler was still for a moment, staring at the apple. Slowly, his eyes grew wider. He started to tremble, his stare shifting from the apple to Brother David.

‘No, no…’ He jumped up, knocking over the chair behind him.

Puzzled, Brother David stood up, as Smiler’s trembling became a full-blown spasm and he started talking in double-quick time. Brother David hurried round the bed. Although Smiler was not focusing on him, it was as if he could see him coming anyway, as the boy backed away from him into the corner.

‘Smiler? Smiler, what’s wrong?’

As suddenly as Smiler had started, he stopped, and stared at Brother David. ‘They’re coming for him, they’re coming for Mike on all sides. You’ve got to help him.’ He grabbed the front of Brother David’s robe and started to shake him. ‘They’re getting closer. He doesn’t stand a chance, they’re gonna kill him.’ Sweat broke out on his brow and Smiler’s whole body had started trembling again.

‘Calm down, son.’

‘You don’t understand,’ Smiler insisted. ‘Mike’s in trouble…big trouble.’ He started to stamp his heels on the floor, as if he was having a fit.

Brother David decided the best course of action was to humour him. ‘Do you know where he is, Smiler?’

‘By the sea. I can see the sea…he, he’s in his car…by the sea. They’re coming.’

‘Who’s coming?’

‘Help him!’ Smiler yelled, his eyes wide and staring, his heels still beating against the floor. ‘The noise.’ He clapped his hands over his ears. ’The noise, please, please stop the noise, I can't stand it, please.’

Brother David reached out to try and calm him, but the next moment Smiler collapsed into a crumpled heap on the floor.

Deeply concerned for this boy he hardly knew, Brother David very carefully placed Smiler in the recovery position. He was just about to press the bell for a nurse when Detective Cox and Sergeant Rafferty entered the room.

‘What’s up?’ Cox asked, hurrying to Smiler’s side.

‘Hello, Jason.’ Brother David pointed at Smiler and sighed. ‘He just suddenly started babbling. I couldn’t understand half of what he was saying… Something about Mike being in danger?’ He shook his head. ‘Something about the sea. Whatever it is, he’s really agitated. His whole body was shaking, like he was having a fit. Then he just sort of passed out.’

A moment later, Smiler moaned as he opened his eyes. Seeing Cox leaning over him, he grabbed the lapels on Cox's jacket and hauled himself up from the floor. ‘It’s Mike, they’re gonna get him. Kill him. They’ll kill him. Please, you have to help, they might already have done it. I can’t see him… The pain, the pain… Help him. You have to help him.’

‘OK, calm down.’ Cox held up his hand. ‘How do you know this? Who told you?’

Smiler was quiet for a moment, his body finally still. Then he looked Cox in the eye and said hesitantly, ‘I…I see things, OK, believe me or not, it happens, I really can… It's frightening… And sometimes I hear things… I don’t always know where it comes from, others do but I can't tell. Rita’s the best at it.’

‘It’s OK, just calm down.’ Cox lowered him onto the chair.

Sergeant Rafferty burst out laughing. ‘Right nutter this one, all right.’

Sitting up straight in the chair as if he’d suddenly received an electric shock, Smiler then dropped his head, as Brother David said. ’There are more things in heaven----’

That was as far as he got. Cox, glaring at Rafferty, said, ’Right, Smiler, tell me what you know. Or,’ he shrugged, ‘whatever you think you can see.’

‘Don’t say you believe him?’ Rafferty stared at Cox, her eyes wide in staged amazement.

‘Let's just say I’m with Brother David on this, OK?’ Turning back to Smiler, he said, ‘Right, lad. What have you got to say for yourself? Quickly, please.’

But Rafferty turned to Brother David before Smiler had a chance to say anything. ‘How can you, a priest, monk, or whatever the hell you are, believe in this shit?’

Brother David smiled as he replied, ‘A very wise man once said, "Faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole of the staircase".’

‘Martin Luther King,’ Smiler muttered, giving Brother David a twitch of a smile.

Impressed, and starting to think there was more to Smiler than he’d first thought, Cox said, ’OK. If Mike’s in some sort of danger, we need to know now, Smiler, quick as you can.’

‘Oh, please. What a waste of time. Can’t you see the kid's obviously drugged up to the eyeballs? Or in desperate need of a fresh fix. Look how he’s shaking. And you’re prepared to believe him?' Shaking her head, Rafferty headed for the door. With a sarcastic sneer, she turned and said, ‘I’ll be in the car. But this is your call, nothing to do with me.’

‘I’m fine with that.’

‘OK, then.’ Rafferty shrugged, as she walked out the door.

As if she’d never spoken, Smiler said, ‘He’s heading north, on the coast road. I can see the sea. It…it’s as if I’m looking down at it.’ Smiler started to shake even more, and clutched at his chest.

‘It's OK, son. Just take your time,’ Cox said.

Smiler stared at him for a moment, his eyes full of misery but tinged with a deep-seated belief. ‘I don’t know if it’s already happened yet, or if it’s going to happen, ‘cos, ‘cos I’ve never been confused like this before. It’s the noise. So much noise. It hurts. I…I feel dizzy as if I’m spinning in the air… I’m gonna be sick.’ He clapped his hand over his mouth as he retched, staring at Cox, imploring him to believe him.

‘Right. You’re not making all that much sense, but I guess that’s enough for me. Time we found out one way or another.’ As Brother David handed a box of tissues to Smiler, Cox pulled out his phone. Within a few minutes he had three patrol cars out on the coast road, one coming down the coast road from the north, and two heading out of Berwick.

With a sigh, he snapped his phone shut, looked at Smiler and said, ‘I hope you’re right. In this age of government cuts we’ve just mobilised three already overworked vehicles.’

‘I hope I’m not.’ Smiler looked so down that it actually strengthened Cox’s resolve. What the hell, he thought, stranger things have happened.

Torn between wanting to stay with Aunt May and go in search of Mike, Smiler looked at Brother David.

Understanding his silent request, Brother David said, ‘Go. I’ll be here for her.’ He patted Smiler’s shoulder, and felt him flinch under the touch. The boy stepped to one side, and looked at Cox.

‘Can I come?’

‘Don’t see why not.’

CHAPTER SIX

Hands shaking, Mike struggled with the car, his heart was pounding enough to burst as he skidded ever closer to the edge of the cliff. Though he knew enough not to stamp on the brakes, he was still tempted. But the roads were wet from the earlier rain and slick with mud-a huge uncontrollable spin was highly possible. Everything was happening so fast, he barely had time to think. Between each breath it seemed the car skidded a different way.

He knew now that, unless a miracle happened in the next few minutes, he was going over the edge-and there was nothing he could do to save himself. His mind racing, he came up with a couple of ideas and just as quickly rejected them. Opening the car door and jumping out was not an option, he was on the wrong side of the car for that. Also, that was the side the bullet had entered and landing on it would probably kill him anyhow if the bullet was lodged somewhere internally. He could feel blood running down his side and pooling in the waistband of his jeans. The whole of his left side felt as if it was burning in hell.

Sweat broke out on his brow, and his heart flipped when the nearside back wheel started to spin in mid air. He felt the car start to topple, then in a moment both front wheels were over the edge. Before he even had time to draw another breath, the whole car lifted and went over the cliff. He was airborne.

Mike clung on to the wheel as hard as he could, expecting at any moment to start spinning in the air. The miracle he’d asked for happened when the car did not turn over. All four wheels hit the ground, but the car started to waltz like some drunken learner at his first dance class. It lurched from side to side, until at last it righted itself. Mike took a deep breath, wondering if he dared hope...

It could straighten out.

Miracles do happen.

But a moment later, carried by momentum, the car started to slide. Slowly at first, then gathering speed. He could see the sea below him. The beautiful calmness he’d delighted in only minutes ago had turned into a monster ready to devour him.

‘Shit, shit, shit,’ he yelled. He was helpless, and guessed this was it. The end of the road for Mike Yorke.

Too soon.

Way too soon.

He had things to do, those murdering bastards deserved to die long before he did. And now they would get away with it.

Nothing would change, the world and everyone in it would go on getting screwed as it always had done.

Nothing I can do.

This is it!

Sharp, cold fear wrapped around his heart. A moment later, he bit into his tongue as what felt like a giant hand took hold of his head and slammed it into the side of the car. He was spinning now, spinning deeper and deeper into unconsciousness.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Detective Kristina Clancy was in the first car out of Berwick. She chewed on her lip as she and a young blonde woman police driver sped up the road.

Irritated, Kristina pulled at the lapel of her navy blue suit. As usual, she was impeccably dressed, matching her suit with a crisp white blouse. She could never get the right hand lapel of this suit to lie properly. It really annoyed the hell out of her. Then she fussed with her brown hair. Finally she gave up, tapping her long red fingernails on her knee, and admitted to herself the real reason she was so stressed out was Mike Yorke. She would love a cigarette, but she knew this driver would probably have a heart attack if she even hinted at it.